OpenAI has announced that ChatGPT will begin testing advertisements later in January 2026.
This marks a significant change for the popular AI chatbot, which has largely operated without ads until now.
The trial will start in the United States, targeting free-tier users and the low-cost ChatGPT Go subscription.
aims to use advertising to boost revenue and support ongoing AI development and infrastructure costs.
How Ads Will Work
Under the new system, ads will appear clearly labeled alongside or below ChatGPT responses whenever a relevant sponsored product or service is related to the conversation.
Key points:
Ads will be separate from AI responses and will not influence answers.
Higher-tier subscribers (Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise) will continue to enjoy an ad-free experience.
Ads will not appear in sensitive areas, including health topics, political content, or for users under 18.
OpenAI assures that user data will not be sold to advertisers.
The company plans to show ads only when relevant to the conversation topic.
Why OpenAI Is Introducing Ads
Running AI at scale is expensive, with massive compute and data-center costs.
Ads provide a new way to generate revenue while keeping free and low-cost access available for millions of users.
With hundreds of millions of weekly users, ChatGPT’s free tier presents a large audience for advertisers.
Revenue from ads will help fund AI innovation and reduce reliance on subscription fees alone.
ChatGPT Go and Subscription Options
OpenAI has also expanded the ChatGPT Go subscription globally.
ChatGPT Go costs around $8 per month and will include ads during the testing phase.
Higher-tier subscriptions remain ad-free, giving users a choice about their experience.
This approach allows OpenAI to balance accessibility and monetisation, ensuring both affordable entry-level options and premium, uninterrupted experiences.
Reactions and User Experience
Industry opinions are mixed:
Some analysts say ads can help fund long-term AI development.
Others warn that poorly placed ads could affect user trust.
OpenAI emphasizes that ads will be optional and controllable, and AI responses will remain reliable and unbiased.
